INTRODUCTION. xvii 



although by a strange fatality my education in coun 

 try matters had been wofully neglected, for I could 

 hardly distinguish tomato-vines from egg-plants, and 

 had not the remotest notion of modes or seasons of 

 planting ; but, now that there was a possibility that 

 these imaginings might be realized, I was so charm 

 ed, that I resolved to record my experiences for the 

 guidance and instruction of others. Thus it came 

 about that this work was written ; and if it is occa 

 sionally defective in style and irregular in plan, it is 

 probably not more so than was my farming. 



